Page 77 - Old Ratcliffian 2020 Edition

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GRACE DIEU MANOR SCHOOL: 1933 – 2020

Sadly, after 87 years, Grace Dieu closed its doors to pupils on July 3rd 2020. Established in 1933 as a preparatory school to Ratcliffe
College, it was originally a boys-only boarding school for pupils from 10 to 14 years old, although a small number went there at an earlier
age. Transferring to Ratcliffe was automatic in those days, as the College only catered for students from 13 years old upwards.

Grace Dieu became a very successful prep school in its own right, and in 2009, a new pre-prep building, the Gentili Centre, was
constructed to cope with increasing numbers. The building attracted a considerable new intake, increasing the number of pupils to 320.
However, the changing pattern of education soon started to have an effect on prep schools across the country, including Grace Dieu.
During that period, entry to senior schools gradually changed from 13 to 11 years old, making Years 7 and 8 more diffi cult to fi ll at Grace
Dieu. Senior schools, including Ratcliffe, continued to develop their own prep schools. With pupils maturing at a younger age, the level
of pastoral care for them became greater, increasing schools’ overheads, and therefore making those years unprofi table. In 2017, Grace
Dieu closed Years 7 and 8, and their cohort at the time transferred to Ratcliffe and other senior schools. Unfortunately, a considerable
number of younger siblings transferred with them.

To counter this fall in numbers, Grace Dieu’s governors made a decision to open a nursery at the school, catering for children aged three
months up to three years. It was hoped that this would bring new pupils into the pre-prep building, and this soon began to show positive
results. It proved to be a tremendous success; within 18 months, there was a waiting list for places. Nursery pupils were starting to follow
through to the pre-prep facility, and the future was looking positive. In 2017, Grace Dieu was awarded a rating of “Outstanding” by the
school inspectors.

Unfortunately, the lack of numbers in the senior school were refl ected in a weakening fi nancial position. As the trustees were not in
a position to keep funding Grace Dieu, the diffi cult decision was made to close it down at the end of the Summer Term in 2020. The
contents of Grace Dieu have now been sold or given to local schools, and many youngsters have benefi tted from this. The school buildings
are currently up for sale.

Richard Gamble (64)
Chair of Governors and Trustee

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